NOPE
3.5 out of 5 stars
Expect the unexpected when it comes to the genius of Jordan Peele. The writer/producer/director pivots from the path of horror with a sci-fi spectacle about humanity’s crazed circus and our inherent obsession to be a part of it. It’s impossible to not look up nor look away. Tense, chilling and thrilling – Nope is an otherworldly summer blockbuster that has classic Spielberg written all over it.
The cast is excellent, lead by a duo of cracking performances from Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya as siblings hoping to unveil a UFO out on the ranch. Brandon Perea (The OA, Doom Patrol) is terrific in his own right, memorably adding to the film’s good use of humor. Sadly, while Steven Yeun’s Jupe is the most intriguing of all the characters – he’s also the least utilized and in far less scenes than he deserves. Jupe could have his own prequel/spin-off in a heartbeat.
Nope’s technical details are impeccable, specifically its earthshaking soundscape and score. As Peele’s biggest and most ambitious film to date, it’s not without his layered, fascinating, and elaborate storytelling that continues to confound us. The film nonetheless does hit a snag in its third act when capturing the unexplainable. There’s some fun to be had but with the allure of what’s in the sky gone – it’s a little dragged out and dissatisfying, causing some deflation to the hypnotic trance we found ourselves instantly under from the beginning.
Consequently, it’s fair to say Nope is Peele’s least charged outing as a director thus far; however, that’s hardly a criticism since he set the bar extremely high with Get Out and Us. And here’s a bit of advice for anyone walking into this with the expectation of seeing something similar to his first two features: don’t! Absolutely nothing will prepare you for this unique, mind-bending mash-up from the innovative mind of a fearless filmmaker.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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